Before adding a Live chat
software on your website, you need to put on thinking cap and
evaluate whether this little addition is productive or unproductive.
Awareness does not implies omniscience. So, before adding a Live chat
software, consider the below mentioned important points in order to
play safe.
IS IT COMPATIBLE?
When you are looking for
a live chat software for your website, you should first and foremost
ensure the compatibility of the Live chat software with:
a) your website
b) your Operating system
c) other accessible
remote devices
Compatibility plays a
crucial role while choosing the Live chat software. Check whether the
software you are choosing provides plugin for your CMS based website
like Joomla, Shopify, etc. Then check the compatibility of the
software with your Operating system. Sometimes, the software do not
support MAC or other Operating systems other than Windows. When you
can not access the Chat on the devices you use, then there is no
point of integrating it. If you have a Small business unit, then it
is necessary to ensure that the software is accessible through
android or other remote devices so that you can connect with your
customers from anywhere at any point of time.
CUSTOMIZATION POSSIBILITIES
Visibility of the Live
chat button on your website definitely grabs the Interest of your
visitors. While choosing the Live chat software there are two things
regarding visibility which you need to check:
a) is the chat button
fully customizable
b) on how many pages or
domains can you use the software
Some Live chat software
provide a single chat button code which has a fixed display style and
image. So, ensure that the Live chat software you are using
facilitates the customization possibilities. So that you can make it
suitable for your website, by changing the color, the style of
display. To check the extent of the customization, test the trial
versions of the softwares. Choose the software which you can use on
unlimited domains and pages, as it makes the management easy. Do not
pay extra penny for each domain.
IS IT BUDGET FRIENDLY?
Ensure that the software
suits your budget. Do not choose the software which over exceeds your
budget. Try searching options which are in your budget and then test
them. Almost all the Live chat software provide same features, so
why choose the expensive one over the economical one. The high prices
quoted by the Market Leaders does not make the economical range
softwares inferior to them. Moreover, they provide discounts too,
when you express your interest. These economical range software are
slowly and steadily capturing the market, beating the Market leaders
in terms of service and prices.
AFTER SALES SERVICES AND REFUND POLICIES
What if you do not like
the software after purchase. What if it does not turn out as
productive as you thought. Do not regret your decision instead check
the refund policies before purchasing it. If you are new to this
software thing then you may need assistance from time to time. Make
sure that the software provides the after sales services, so that you
can look upto them, at the point of confusion. Some companies build
expectations they can not live upto. So do not turn your expectations
into disappointment, rather check the after sales and customer
support policies in advance.
THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MANAGEMENT
Before making the
purchase decision, be sure that your staff is ready to handle clients
online via Live chat software. If not, then train them, make them
learn the online business rules, prepare them for all the situations
they can come across while handling the client online. Not just your
internal system should get ready for it but the external too, make
sure that your existing clients are aware of the new communication
medium you are implementing.
Live
chat software is definitely the best communication medium for online
businesses but there are number of software's out there. So, keeping
all the above points in mind choose your service wisely.